New Franz Ferdinand Single: "Ulysses"

Really feeling this track.

Florence & the Machine cover Beirut

"Postcards From Italy" is probably one of my all-time favorite songs ever written.

CLICK HERE to download Florence & the Machine - "Postcards From Italy (Beirut cover)"

Chuck Klosterman Reviews Chinese Democracy

CLICK HERE for a nice, albeit long, review of Guns N' Roses 15 years in the making Chinese Democracy by the master of pop-culture critiques. 

Lykke Li Remixes KOL

BA remix right here, found on the "Use Somebody" single. Obsessed with it.

Kings Of Leon - "Knocked Up (Lykke Li vs. Rodeo remix)

808s

 A couple thoughts on Yeezy. He has an ego. Probably a god complex. Last night on Conan, he likened his celebrity battle against the paparazzi to some of his family members' activism in the civil rights movement and later interrupted the interview so that he could go pee. He followed all this with a fairly bad performance of "Heartless." At various music award shows in the past two years he threw tantrums when someone else won the awards he felt should have been his. When he finally wins a few, he says they should have gone to someone else. He recently made public his intent to be declared the next Elvis. Clearly his level of celebrity and success have affected his self-perception as well as his perception of the world.

However, I love the guy. He genuinely believes in his work, which is rare in popular music nowadays, especially in this genre. He's more innovative and thoughtful about his "craft" than probably just about every other current mainstream pop act, and in the day and age of over-processed, over-produced and over-polished radio garbage, I can appreciate that. While the public's view of him is pretty poor (and probably rightfully so), I hate to see that bleed over into his worth or credibility as an artist. For me, Kanye's latest album, 808s & Heartbreak (entitled as such because all songs were created from the Rolan TR-808 drum machine and an Auto-Tune/distortion/delay vocal effect Kanye nicknamed "heartbreak"), is evidence that Mr. West continues to be Mr. Fresh and is definitely worth checking out. Sample the tracks (my current favorite being "RoboCop") at hype machine. 

Matt Pond PA Gives Away Free EP

The title says it all. Get Matt Pond's FREEP by clicking HERE.

People From Iowa Like Slinging Bone

Iowa fans can click HERE to see how we do.

Ezra from Vampire Weekend Covers Punk Songs with F*#%ed Up

I like that Ezra doesn't sing so much as he yells. I like that this is about as far from VW music as you can get. I also like when the crowd grabs and shakes him and gets all punk rock and stuff. I especially like that he does all this in kakhis, a tucked in oxford, and boat shoes. Sooo punk rock.

They cover "Someone's Gonna Die" by Blitz and "Parents" by the Descendants

Do all y'all Chicagoans know about this fella? He's keeping it real real and real fresh.

UNESCO just designated Iowa City a City of Literature. This makes Iowa City the third city in the world (Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourn, Australia being the other two) and the first city in America to earn such a designation. Score one for IC.

Aaaand Stage Freeze!

TV's Favorite Interracial BFFs Return

Turk and JD will be bringing Scrubs back to the airwaves via ABC starting Tuesday, January 6. The last two seasons were pretty subpar, but I'm hoping for the best. Thanks to Bobby for the headsup.

Vampire Weekend (and strings) on Conan

Mellow little performance of "The Kids Don't Stand A Chance."

Free Bruce

Head to itunes or brucespringsteen.net to download a new song by the Boss.

Plus the Lovely Feist

John Legend Wants To Nog Your Egg and Nut His Meg

For those of you that missed the Colbert Christmas special last night, a sexually-undertoned highlight.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

A Colbert Christmas: John Legend

Ron Paul Interview
Bob Barr Interview

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

Beach House: "Used To Be"

I never really got what all the hubub surrounding Beach House was about, so I resisted this video/song when it recently splooged all over bliznogs, but I just can't fight it anymore. Too pretty. I can hear some Robin Pecknold vocal peculiarities, which I like, but I looove the breakdown/outro that begins at 2:22.

Watch Kanye Emote on the AMA's

The 90s Were AWESOME

Boo the Fray. Yay the Lost.

Jeff Buckley Video: "Hallelujah"

Thought I'd throw this up in commemoration of JB coming in at #39 on Rolling Stone's surprisingly apt list of the 100 greatest singers. Never saw this video before, but I found it pretty moving. It's like watching a ghost. Or an angel. Or an angel's ghost.

More Videos

Gmail Upgrades to Gmail 2.Awesome

So my new gmail background is now set to ninja. Pretty much the sweetest thing ever.

And this is an artist's rendition of a ninja from the future...so that's something we can all look forward to.

Margot & The Nuclear So and So's On Conan

Performing "As Tall As Cliffs" and sucking much less than they did at Iowa.

Andrew Bird Continues To Be Awesome

You can check out a video of Andrew Bird performing "Section 8 City" from his upcoming release by CLICKING HERE . It's just Bird and his violin (but if you close your eyes you can hear at least three or four other musicians in there).

BONUS: CLICK HERE to watch Fleet Foxes perform "Blue Ridge Mountain" from the same space.

Black Keys Interview GZA

This little nugget was on pitchfork.tv and I found it pretty refreshing (GZA, for all you crackers, is one of the members of the iconic rap group the Wu Tang Clan). Anywho, it's just an impromptu interview of sorts where two white guys that ape (in the best possible way) black music talk about music with one of hip-hop's more innovative artists. I guess I always enjoy when an artist from a genre exemplified by biggots and ignoramouses (Fiddy, Eminem, Soulja Boy, etc.) is able to articulate intelligent thoughts regarding the state of/circumstances surrounding his art.

When talking about the gentrification of popular music, GZA states the solution quite simply: "Do something that hasn't been done or do it in a different way."

And for those (like me) who bitch about the lack of support from the industry for innovative artists, GZA puts it simply: "Everything starts in the streets...there's always room for something [new]."

And, finally, to the artist that sets out looking to make those radio/club anthems: "I do music for myself because I don't know what [radio, clubs, and MTV are] gonna like...So I just do songs that I like and give it out to others."

Simply insightful.

Blink-182 Reunion?

via SPIN

Live De La Sema

I'm not entirely sure what "Live De La Sema" is all about, but I think it's some sort of foreign language music show in the vein of Jools Holland. Whatever it is, it has my attention. The only two acts that youtube has produced are Bloc Party and TV on the Radio, and I'm pretty okay with that.

Bloc Party - "Signs"

TV on the Radio - "Love Dog" (one of my favorite slow-burners off the new record)

 TV on the Radio "Wolf Like Me" (awesome hip swivel at 00:54)

Talk about food to go (wink wink wink)...

NSFW BUT TOTALLY LOLZ!!!!!

So you probably shouldn't watch this if you're at work or class and you probably shouldn't watch this if I call you "mom" or "dad." Pretty sure this is a Zune commercial. Found it at THIS blog.

I say Nikolai He Says Nickel Eye

The Strokes' bassist Nikolai Fraiture, like guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. and drummer Fabrizio Moretti, is releasing a solo disc (Time of the Assassins) while waiting for the Strokes to get their act together (allegedly on a break until 2009). All I've heard is what he's got up on his myspace, but, as with Moretti, it's the Strokesiest song that first grabs me. I doubt that this album will get to me as much as Little Joy has, but the first track on the myspace, "Brandy of the Damned," is a little catchy, if not a little repetitive. It sounds a tiny bit like Sublime in that "white boy doing reggae" way, not in a that "chadbrochill" way. Listen HERE. 

Half of the Black Keys to Release a Solo Album

Dan Auerbach, still sporting the "Civil War beard" (as Timmy puts it), is the guitar-slinging/singing half of the guitar/drums duo that is the Black Keys. Dan's releasing a solo effort on February 10 called Keep It Hid. No clues to as to the sound he'll be going for, but I feel confident with a prediction that the record will be of the blues/rock persuasion, although I'm betting it'll be on the lighter, bluesier side (otherwise, no real reason to abandon drummer Pat).

"I Got Mine" from Attack & Release on Letterman...a slice of rock & roll heaven.

Star Trek Trailer

My slide into super-geekdom is almost complete...

Colbert Christmas Special!!

Soooooo the one and only Stephen Colbert will be airing a Christmas special on November 23 called "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All" which will feature awesomeness in the form of an hour long Christmas special and which will include special guests Feist, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, and Jon Stewart. So pumped.

There will also be an album on itunes. Click HERE to be taken to a stream of an original Colbert Christmas jingle, which will appear on said album.

Tokyo Police Club on Desperate Housewives

The Canadian foursome made their primetime television debut last night on Desperate Housewives. I watched the whole episode. I won't say anything disparaging, because I know my mommy is one of four people that reads this blog. So here's the video (from Stereogum).

A Real Host Does Wonders For SNL

I think part of the reason for SNL's somewhat rocky consistency as of late (aside from sometimes mediocre writing) has been their continuing use of "what's hot right now" hosts (i.e. Michael Phelps, the guy who swims really well but don't talk too good). Paul Rudd was on last night, and for the first time in a quite awhile, every sketch was at least bearable, if not pretty funny. Sort of weird what happens when you get actors to do the acting.

Quite A Bit of Joy in Little Joy

So I heard that Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti had got himself involved in a little side-project called Little Joy a bit ago. When I first heard the album, it didn't really grab me, mostly because I was expecting something a little more Strokes-y (see Albert Hammond, Jr.). But after reading nice to glowing reviews in Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and the like, I thought I ought to revisit it. Glad I did. It's great. And although it's much more a summer/south pacific island feeling record that doesn't seem to quite fit the current midwestern climate, it at least helps to take your mind off of the bitter cold.

Here's a video for the song "Unattainable" off the self-titled and excellent album.

Little Joy | "Unattainable" from gorillavsbear.net on Vimeo.

Click RIGHT HERE to get a taste of the very (and only) Strokes-y song on the album.

New Harry Potter Trailer

Zip that fly back up, Klob.

Watchmen Trailer

To be honest, I really don't know much about this comic/graphic novel at all. I know it was critically acclaimed. I know that the heroes in it (with the exception of one) are sort of like Batman in that they have no real powers, just costumes and gadgets and kung-fu. But I have committed myself to watching every comic book movie that comes out (which, in certain cases,  has turned out to be quite a burden [think Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Sky High...]), and this will be no exception. Luckily, the trailer makes it look pretty dang nifty.

New Bon Iver EP!!

Yussssssss!!! It's no big secret that I'm a big fan of Justin Vernon and all his Bon Iver musical output. Yes, I've hung out with him twice (2 times) and have ripped Johnnie Walker Gold with Bon Iver percussionist Sean while Justin watched and the band played one of the best shows Iowa City has ever seen. Finally, JV & Co. have got some new tunes to grace our deprived ears. The four song Blood Bank will be available in the US on January 20, 2009.

Here he is covering Okkervil River's "Blue Tulip" with an mp3 below.

Bon Iver - "Blue Tulip"

(ctrl/right click + download)

Gaslight Anthem'

Have really been digging the album The '59 Sound by the Gaslight Anthem. Because I lack any original thoughts, I'm just going to recycle the description that's been following this band around: punk meets the Boss. For those of you inside my circle, it sounds like a band that Thom would listen to in 2001...in a good way. Check out a real pretty (and real Bossy) acoustic version of the album's lead track.

The Gaslight Anthem - "Great Expectations"

Trailer: 2012

I'm sort of intrigued by this trailer. When you see those waters come over the top of the mountain it grabs at something primordial in your gut, doesn't it? Gives me the willies...

Edit: I just read that this movie is by Nickelodeon and centers around a family that takes a vacation during this fated apocalypse...lame.

Another Lost Season 5 Teaser

Fleet Foxes on La Blogotheque

This is all over blogopolis, but I still feel compelled to throw 'em up.

Sun Giant + Blue Ridge Mountain

Fleet Foxes - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Sun Giant + White Winter Hymnal

Arrested Development Movie A Go?

I'm sure most of you AD fans had read George Michael's party pooping comments regarding the chance of an Arrested Development movie. But a new twist comes with comments made by Jeffrey Tambor at a recent Hellboy II promo. When Tambor (George Sr.) was asked if he was tired of getting AD movie questions, he responded "Well no, because we're doing it. We are going. It's a go. I just actually this week talked to Mitch Hurwitz, so we're doing it."

I'm skeptical, but encouraged.

New Antony & the Johnsons Album Drops January 20, 2009

Antony's gorgeous, mesmerizing, and incomparable vocals have haunted me ever since I first heard the soul crushing "Hope There's Someone" off of his instant classic I Am A Bird Now. Just got word that the follow-up to that marvelous album, entitled The Crying Light, is due out in the states on January 20th. Where the former album focused on love, loss, life, and death with an attention to how those themes play out internally, the new album seems to pay more attention to those themes in an external context, fearing the losses we seem destined to encounter (i.e. our totally fucked environment). 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD the gorgeous and environmentally conscientious track "Another World."

Cold War Kids "Making Of" Documentary

CWK documented the making of their most recent album Loyalty to Loyalty, and put it up for free viewing on the youtubes.

Wow.

Pretty powerful stuff.

I Inspire Me. Does You Inspire You?

Worst post title ever. Right there. I win.

I was meaning to write about these guys/gal for a week now. They're a Brooklyn band called Chairlift who some of you might recognize from their ipod ad-worthy song "Bruises" (see below).  I recently found myself in the excellent position of being front row at their opening set for Yeasayer at Grinnell (which was ridonkulous). This song, from Chairlift's debut Does You Inspire You?, has been on repeat for a bit. Feels super eighties and super awesome.

Chairlift - "Planet Health"

(ctrl/right click + download)

ipod commercial featuring "Bruises."

Kanye Performs "Love Lockdown"; "American Boy" with Estelle

Although his God complex can be a little overwhelming at times, I still think he's a pretty innovative and important contributor to hip-hop and pop music. Plus, the way Ye's outfit disappears into the stage is sick.

75 Days...

ABC has set Lost's season premiere date. The show will start it's fifth season with a two-hour-ninja-time-on-your-face-episode on Wednesday, January 21 (I always sort of preferred the Wednesday show time to the Thursday).

Trailer for Season 5


I just pooped a little.

Thanks to Clarky for the headsup.

Bon Iver & the Bowerbirds cover "Lovin's For Fools"

Gorgeous harmonies on this gorgeous song.

New Kanye Video: "Heartless"

First video from Ye's breakup album. Feels very 80's cop drama-ish.

Day Bow Bow

I know it's been a slow day, but there's been lots to do on my end. And, to make matters worst,  last night's It's Always Sunny... (from what I've heard from my trusted associate TSJ) wasn't that good. So, I thought I'd leave you all with a nice taste in your mouth. One of my favorite scenes from last week's episode. 


The best part is the way Mac smiles after he sings the first "chka chkaaa."

New Artist: Anjulie

If Nancy Sinatra covered M.I.A./Santogold, it would sound something like this.

Anjulie - "Boom"

The Boom EP comes out on November 11.

Kings of Leon "Use Somebody" (Official Video)

The Followills continue their video streak. Yet another video of them looking (or trying to look) intense, interspersed with performance clips. I've also been noting the new trend of drummer Nathan periodically losing his shirt. I still love the Kings of Leon, but they sure aren't making it easy.

Bloc Party - "Ion Square" and "Letter To My Son" Live and Intimate

There's a whole slew of these on the youtubes, so I thought I'd just post two of the songs I dug the most from the sessions. There isn't too much going on in the videos, but it's nice to see a band that sounds so tight live.

Scary Guy From Lost, Fringe, The Wire Writes Songs

Stream some HERE.

Fleet Foxes Perform White Winter Hymnal on Jools Holland

One of my favorite bands performing one of my favorite songs on a TV show in one of my favorite countries.

Obama's Gonna Tear This Country Apart!

Kids doing pot and getting high on cigarettes and alcohol all over the country...

Chester French Album Coming Soon

So there was a bit of buzz going on about Pharrell faves Chester French a little bit ago. They seem sort of like Harvard's answer to Vampire Weekend. I guess with most Ivy League schools offering little in the way of sports (which I love...I love sports and stuff), they're starting to resort to competishes of the musical variety.

Chester French - "She Loves Everybody"

New Metric

Now that Emily Haines (one of the many Canadian Broken Social Scene collaborators) has gotten her solo record behind her, seems like she's ready to get back to banging out songs with her regular band Metric, because they've got a new album and a tour a-coming. There's a video of her explaining some of the writing process and demon battling that occurred while living in Buenos Aires, as well as the song "Help, I'm Alive" playing in the background. Sounds dec.

New Margot & The Nuclear So and So's Video: "As Tall As Cliffs"

W. just being W.
As Tall As Cliffs

Ain't that good news?

I know that there are a lot of you out there for whom the election did not go quite as you'd hoped or expected, and for that, I'm truly sorry. But, in the words of Frank Reynolds, that's politics, bitch.

Sam Cooke - "A Change Is Gonna Come"

Little Conchord Chick Born

Jemaine Clement (of Flight of the Conchord's fame) just had a little pup of his own, named Sophocles. Awesome.

Fuel

I don't usually care too much for celebrity opinions (sorry Sheryl Crow, Woody Harrelson, and guy from 90210), so try and gloss over those parts. Otherwise, looks like it might be a really insightful documentary (i.e. avoids political preaching, focuses on bringing a legitimate issue to the public's attention)

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | More Video Clips

Voted Yet?

Have you voted yet?


p.s. what's with the 'git 'er done' vanity plate? lame dash o.

The Boss Speaks...Brown Bear Listens

I know some of you (Fang) HATE it when musicians do anything but sing, but when the Boss speaks, Brown Bear listens.

Ugh...I couldn't even make it through the whole video. I won't even dignify the post with a title. But, in order to fulfill my pledge to keep the vote on your minds, here it is anyways.

Vote: Kitties or Puppies?

See more Natalie Portman videos at Funny or Die

See more Natalie Portman videos at Funny or Die

Election Day

So in about 30 minutes it will officially be election day. Regardless of what party or candidate your alliance lies with, you just gotsta gotsta gotsta vote. This is not by any means a political blog post, as I'm far too ignorant about such matters to really preach. I'm just trying to point out that being free to vote is the greatest right we as Americans are given, and failing to do so is a slap in the face to the rest of the world.

As such, today is going to be filled with posts that will keep your duty to vote at the forefront of your mind.

Remember, you can vote however you like.

Tokyo Police Club To Perform on Desperate Housewives

Well, TPC were namechecked in the show that my mom loves a few episodes ago, and now it appears that the canucks will be performing their own song, "In A Cave," under the moniker "Cold Splash" in a battle of the bands scenario at some made up club on Wisteria Lane on the November 16 episode of Desperate Housewives (long sentence).

Whatever puts some money in your pocket, I guess. Thanks to NME for the headsup.

The video below for one of my faves off their great full-length.

"In A Cave"

Radiohead's "Reckoner" Remixed by ReRunner

Lots of 'r's in that title. I'm not usually one for remixes, as I feel that there are enough plain old mixes being overlooked out there that there's no need for so many remixes to be clogging up hype machine. This one, however, is too good to pass up, probably because the remix's source material is so exquisitely strong. Check it out for yourself.

ReRunner - Reckoner (remix)

SNL

So Saturday's SNL....what was that about? Why was Ben Affleck hosting? Who was the musical guest (not what was the band's name, but WHO the hell were they)?

Also, while I'm sure "Giraffes" will be making it's way all over the interwebs, let us not forget where its inspiration came from: the much more enjoyable "Sloths" (which I saw for the first time in the ER while waiting for the doctors to tell me if they were going to have to amputate B.Scott's foot).

"Giraffes"


"Sloths"

Of Montreal Cover It's Always Sunny

Of Montreal just went up about a billion points in my book. Video of Of Montreal covering the Charlie Kelly/Dennis Reynolds original "Day Man."


And the original work of artistic genius.